[GuyContinental]

@Justin Antos 39721 wrote:

My phone is my tracker. I now use Strava.

After using Cyclemeter for 1.5 years, I recently switched to Strava (prompted by Freezing Saddles) and really like it so far. CycleMeter was great at tracking my progress, but Strava adds the ability to see and talk about other people’s rides – which I find both inspirational and a great way to learn about new routes around the city.

No reason why you can’t do both- Cyclemeter is the best and most flexible app I’ve found but I do ride management/social stuff on Strava. At the end of a Cyclemeter ride just email the .tcx file to uploads@strava.com from the app 2 clicks.

[GuyContinental]

@ShawnoftheDread 39693 wrote:

Last call for Greg Ba, Team 1’s missing member. Kevin on Team Ocho may know him (maybe not). Anyone else?

Sorry- Just got back into the country, Greg is/was in South Africa… I’ll ping him

[GuyContinental]

On trainers- I’m all for them, provided that they are set up outside

[GuyContinental]

Sorry Ochos, I’m out of the country (lounging on a beach, logging swims)- just joined the team but won’t be riding until week 2… Hans will represent for me, I’m sure…

[GuyContinental]

@Certifried 38899 wrote:

oh, to be clear, I didn’t see it posted anywhere, but do “trainer” rides count?

It would hardly be a “freezing saddles” challenge if they did… (imagines spooky clowns “riding” a living room recumbent while eating bon bons and watching old recordings of le tour as I have icicles hanging off my nose…)

[GuyContinental]

@Jason B 38865 wrote:

My gripe with my garmin is basically two fold, the lettering is too small for my old eyes, and I am already caring my phone. I was most concerned with battery life for a 2-3 hour ride, which it is sounds like a wahoo solves. Does the wahoo ANT support the Gamin heart and cadence sensors, which I already have? When using a Wahoo, is there a specific app I have to use, or will any work?

As for elevation, are you referring to elevation during a ride or the total at the end?
Thanks again all,

I use Cyclemeter (I’m actually a beta tester for them) great folks, slick app, maybe the best $5 I’ve ever spent on my phone. A plus for your old eyes is that you can make the display simple and HUGE or complex and tiny and swipe back and forth between the two.

On the sensors- as long as you have ANT+, they should work.

Elevation is calculated based on map information as opposed to Barometric pressure (as it is in the 500+(?) series Garmins) so your elevation during a ride is almost always going to be wrong- in my case, my 25miles WB to work on the WOD reads as only 600′ on the app and nearly 1500′ on a Garmin.

As for KOMs… bah…

I’ve been meaning to “accidentally” leave mine on and “accidentally” drive just under 27mph up Kirkwood…

[GuyContinental]

Yup- I do. About 6K miles on the set-up

iPhone4 with the Wahoo ANT+ case/mount/extended battery and Cyclemeter as tracking app (quick tcx uplaods to Strava).

Pluses:
1. It’s always in my pocket
2. Cyclemeter app has a great audio performance feature (whispers your comparative stats on a ride)
3. If you do this sort of thing, you can listen to Pandora at the same time (one ear please…)
4. Power meter compatibility
5. Observed 8+ hours of battery life with battery extender case and screen on (~3 or so without). No screen (announcement only) = ~5 hours or 10+ with extender. Also rechargeable using any iPhone recharger.
6. Customizable interface and all the data you could ever want
7. ANT+ gear is cross compatible with lots of apps and Garmin
8. Case is strong- I lost it at 30 mph (pinging off a wall no less) and although the case was scratched the phone was snug as a bug
9. Highly water resistant

Minuses:
1. No barometer so elevation… sucks
2. Case is huge, like a flippin’ wing on my bar. I toss it in my jersey most of the time and rely on announcements for performance
3. Expensive- Bike pack $120; HR $50; extended battery $60; extra S&C for second bike $40 (still less than a higher end Garmin)
4. Wahoo case is really robust but screen cover scratches easily
5. No turn by turn (although you *can* upload a .tcx and follow your progress on the map

If you have a new iPhone (5) you have some cool options- ANT+ is replaced by BT4 and you can use the new RFLKT display while keeping your phone safe and warm in a pocket. http://www.wahoofitness.com/RFLKT/?returnFull=1

I’m a bit torn- the elevation is the biggest bummer for me but the ease of use wins out in the end. I know myself and I know that I won’t get around to uploading from a Garmin, especially on little rides.

[GuyContinental]

@KayakCyndi 38729 wrote:

Will try to find a bike but will rickshaw miles count if I can’t?

Only if you are pulling the rickshaw…

[GuyContinental]

@FFX_Hinterlands 38710 wrote:

Trekking bars (aka Butterfly bars – http://www.bikesonline.com/dimension-trekking-bar-25-4mm-black.htm)?

Or Ergons with built-in bar ends. http://www.jensonusa.com/!tf19WLjc3XiYYJlZ–4SUg!/Ergon-GP4-Grip-With-Bar-End?utm_source=FRGL&utm_medium=organic&gclid=CJeyqZrVq7QCFYZM4Aod3CoAUA

Both good suggestions- the Trekking bar is probably the cheapest option that will give you the most hand positions (do folks wrap those things or try and shove a grip around the bends?). Ergons are pretty pricey and I’m not sure if you can cut them down (while maintaining structural integrity) if required. Aren’t they hard plastic?

Trekking bar link didn’t work for me (although URL was correct)- go to website and search “trekking bar”

[GuyContinental]

Bob, is the handlebar too narrow, or are your grips too wide? Back when bar-ends were the thing in MTB (horrible horrible sternum-crushing idea off-road IMO) I used to have to cut down my grips for the bar ends to fit. Heck I have a old set of bar ends floating around if you want them.

You are a large human, so you don’t want to end up with too-narrow bars. Also, “large human” in mind, basic AL bars are cheap so I concur with everyone else- don’t muck around with extenders.

[GuyContinental]

@Dirt 38468 wrote:

All I need is a lot more momentum. I’d clear it for sure. Bike probably wouldn’t, but I would.

Flap your arms, hold on to the bike with your thighs… you’ll be finnnne….

6pm, I’ll have the Go Pro…

[GuyContinental]

What no kicker right before the cones? I bet that Pete could clear that…

[GuyContinental]

Me: Minding my own business standing in the median of Sterling Blvd right after dawn, you dude with a chip on your shoulder in a white mommy-mobile SUV.

Yes cyclists sometimes run stop signs and yes maybe I did a low speed drift the east side sign but a) it was a divided road with no traffic on my side (which rarely happens there) and b) I was stopped in the median, foot down, waiting for your side’s traffic to clear. Was it really necessary to slam on your brakes, stop in the crosswalk, and scream expletives at me while honking traffic piled up behind you? Believe me, I hate that intersection more than you do…

fuzzy bunnies….

[GuyContinental]

@Certifried 38353 wrote:

I woke up about 2:00 and felt pretty rested, thinking I had woke up maybe a bit later than 2:00. I was excited about riding in! Looked at my phone, 2:00. Damnit. Took me forever to get back to sleep. Woke up again at 3:30 with my back hurting, made the mistake of taking something for it. Something that can severely depress respiration (I already have “severe obstructive sleep apnea”). Spent the next 2 hours in fitful twilight sleep, filled with nightmares about the devil, Jesus, praying (haven’t been to church in years, don’t hate). Woke up at 6:30, realizing I overslept too much to bike in, thought maybe I’d drive to Proteus, park there, bike to work, then bike back to Proteus in the evening for Yoga. Didn’t. Hating this thread more and more every day.

Is there anyone you can ride with for at least part of your crazy route? Maybe at Proteus? I find that the knowledge that a buddy is waiting for me in the cold and dark somewhere on my route can overcome the most self-pitying mornings.

[GuyContinental]

@fuzzy 38327 wrote:

Sounds similar to when I lost my virginity.

Awesome. Go on kids, re-read acc’s post with that in mind…

[Author]

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